People v. Strodder

Defendant was charged with first-degree murder. MCLA 750.316; MSA 28.548. He waived a jury, and after a trial covering approximately 29 days was found guilty as charged. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and appeals.

At trial defendant presented two defenses: (1) lack of criminal responsibility due to insanity, and (2) innocence based upon a claim that the victim was murdered by her own husband, who had hired the defendant to take the blame.

The victim, Sally Ann Wright, died as a result of strangulation. The time of her death was fixed at approximately mid-afternoon on September 28, 1970.…